96	FAUNA
several thousands. Among the rays may be noted the big
saw-fish (Pristis cuspidatns)^ whose snout or saw is armed
with a double row of sharp teeth; and the sting-ray
(Trygon uarnak\ whose tail is armed with a spine capable
of inflicting very serious wounds. Among bony fishes, the
most conspicuous is the large sea-perch (Epincphclus lancco-
latu$\ which has been caught on several occasions by
fishermen off Madras; and the sword or peacock-fish
(Histioplwnts gladius\ which attacks whales, ships, canoes,
and drift wood, and sometimes leaves its sword (snout)
imbedded therein. Among curiously shaped bony fishes

Fig. 32.   Rhinodon typicus.
may be noted the sea-horse (Hippocainpits, sp.); the
remora (Echeneis naucrates\ which has a sucking-disc on
its head, by means of which it attaches itself to whales,
turtles, sharks, and boats; the globe-fishes (Tetrodon and
Diodon}, which have great power of inflation ; and the file
cr trigger-fishes (Batistes), which are accused of destroying
the pearl-oysters by chiselling a hole through the shell
with their sharp teeth, and extracting the soft parts of the
animal.
The mahseer (Barbus tor), which sometimes weighs over
90 Ibs., affords excellent sport in the Bhavani, and other